I have suffered from Depression my whole life....from being an obese child, to D-day, to the divorce, and then being pregnant alone, and now I know ....if I am truly honest with myself....that I'm suffering from it now. I exercise to battle it....which is the best kind of therapy....but it only seems short-lived.

I think its time to go a step further. A step I was trying to avoid but think might be necessary.

I've been on Zoloft before....and it did nothing for me. I was just curious if any of you have tried one that worked.... and if it had a generic as I can't afford a brand new "just out of the lab" drug that will cost me a kidney....

I'm not even sure how to bring this up to my doctor. Its seems so demeaning....but its not like I haven't had this conversation before with past doctors....

"Sometimes your knight in shining armor ...is just a douchebag in tin foil!!"

There's no shame in having depression, Shelly. Not sure what would be demeaning in talking to your doctor about it. If he/she makes you feel bad for having a chemical imbalance, then it's time to find a different doctor.

What works for one person may not work for another, so telling you what has or hasn't worked for me won't help you one bit. But there are numerous options out there, and Zoloft is just one. It may take some trial and error to find one that works well for you, but it's worth the effort to get relief.

A lot of people have to try several ADs before they get the one that works for them.

I got lucky. My doc prescribed something, and I refused it because I researched the side effects. So he prescribed generic Wellbutrin, which worked great for me. No side effects except weight loss, which for me was a bonus.

Often, but not always, AD use can be temporary, when combined with therapy. It was in my case.

No good doctor is going to be judgmental about the need for ADs, STD tests, or any other situational condition. They're in that line of work to help people.

Take care of yourself. There's a great future out there. It won't come to you; you have to go to it.

Posts: 5315 | Registered: Mar 2009 | From: DeepInTheHeartOf, TX

cayc♀ 21964Member # 21964

Posted: 11:02 AM, April 30th (Wednesday), 2014

Sadly I've tried them all (except lithium) and they did nothing for me. ADs aren't a magic bullet. Recognizing that you might be depressed though is. Asking for help is.

But of course this goes back to not just talk to your doctor, but find a talk-therapy self help group, an IC, other internet forums and so on. All of those things we've been encouraging you to try and do.

(((Shelly)))

"I'm not afraid of storms, for I'm learning how to sail my ship." - Louisa May Alcott

Posts: 3446 | Registered: Dec 2008 | From: Mexico

Gemini71♀ 40115Member # 40115

Posted: 11:18 AM, April 30th (Wednesday), 2014

I recommend going to a specialist instead of a general practitioner for ADs for this very reason. ADs act differently with different people and can have some scary interactions. They also seem a lot more comfortable and laid back about prescribing medication.

I was on Paxil (Paroxetine Hcl) during my first Major Depressive episode, about 20 years ago. It worked well for me with minimal side effects (jitters). Then I was on Zoloft (Sertraline Hcl) when I had kids, since it is one of the only ADs approved for pregnant and nursing women. It was okay. Didn't really do much for me. My doctor added Welbutrin (Bupropion Hcl) to it, and it worked much better. Welbutrin also has the happy side effect of decreasing appetite. Now I'm on Cymbalta (Duloxetine Hcl), and I LOVE it! It is also used to treat chronic pain, so it's particularly good for me since I have back problems. It is one of the ADs that you cannot quit cold turkey or you'll get horrible side effects. It just recently came out in a generic, so it's not as expensive as it used to be.

This is really something that you need to be able to talk to your doctor about because it really is different for everyone. Good luck.

"Better not give in to it. It takes ten times as long to put yourself back together as it does to fall apart.”
― Suzanne Collins, Mockingjay

Double Betrayal D-Day 7/26/2013
Divorced 11/18/2014

Posts: 2575 | Registered: Jul 2013 | From: Illinois, USA

Kelany♀ 34755Member # 34755

Posted: 11:21 AM, April 30th (Wednesday), 2014

I had to try a few to find the right one.

Zoloft for me after a year wore off. Never was that great either.

Cymbalta just sucked.

Lexapro is my winner. Helps with depression and anxiety. It does have a generic.

My husband was on effexor and wellbutrin at the same time, but sexual side effects were plenty. Other than that, he liked it. He's on vybriid now, similar to effexor, less sexual side effects.

BS - Me
SA/FWH Him
DDay 1 - Jul 11
DDay 2 - Jul 12
R Dec 12

Former 80s Icon wishful thinking

Posts: 2031 | Registered: Feb 2012

Williesmom♀ 22870Member # 22870

Posted: 11:42 AM, April 30th (Wednesday), 2014

I took Trazadone after the D. I couldn't sleep, but it did pick me up.

Once I was able to get into some kind of sleep routine, I weaned myself off.

You can stuff your sorries in a sack, mister. -George Costanza
There is a special place in hell for women who don't help other women. - Madeleine Albright

Posts: 8366 | Registered: Feb 2009 | From: Western PA

Jrazz♀ 31349Member # 31349

Posted: 11:46 AM, April 30th (Wednesday), 2014

There's zero shame in AD's. I think the concern comes from people who feel pressured to look like they don't need any help - but we ALL need help.

I haven't talked much about this, but my psychiatrist wants to start me on two meds... Paxil and Ritalin. As for AD's, I tried Zoloft years ago and it just numbed me out - I felt like I was sitting in the back of my own head. As for ADD, I've always known I was on the chart somewhere (selective laser focus bordering on obsession for some things, inability to concentrate at all on others. Test like a genius but never did homework, can't put away folded clothes but can play concert piano etc.) It's been embarrassing and scary to address this, but I KNOW I have to do it if I want my shit fully pulled together. I'm sharing here with you so that you don't feel alone in asking for help with the things you can't help but struggle with. It happens to all of us.

Take a deep breath. You don't have to impress anyone. You'll find happiness when you have peace within.

(((She11y)))

"It is impossible to get a man to understand something if his livelihood depends on him not understanding." - Upton Sinclair

Posts: 23914 | Registered: Feb 2011 | From: California

She11ybeanz♀ 27457Member # 27457

Posted: 11:57 AM, April 30th (Wednesday), 2014

but find a talk-therapy self help group, an IC, other internet forums and so on. All of those things we've been encouraging you to try and do.

I've been in a steady IC for over 2 years now. I love her. She agrees though that I need more and she is anti-medication therapist but she thinks that it might help me over a temporary hump.

Take a deep breath. You don't have to impress anyone. You'll find happiness when you have peace within.

I completely agree. I think that's why dating has no appeal to me. I want to be happy with me first and happy with where I am in life spending quality time with my daughter and soaking up the precious moments. I just think I may be able to enjoy MORE if I got a little more help. And, ADs might be the answer.

I dislike the stigma around medication. I used to be like that myself, sadly.

After DDay2, I knew if I didn't get on something, I might kill myself.

I haven't looked back.

BS - Me
SA/FWH Him
DDay 1 - Jul 11
DDay 2 - Jul 12
R Dec 12

Former 80s Icon wishful thinking

Posts: 2031 | Registered: Feb 2012

one2ndchance♀ 14759Member # 14759

Posted: 12:37 PM, April 30th (Wednesday), 2014

I got on Lexapro after 1st d-day. It takes about a week to kick in and I'll never forget the day that happened.

One morning, I got in my car and pulled out of the dark garage into the daylight. I felt like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz when she opened the door and walked out into Munchkinland. All of a sudden, my world went from grainy black & white to Technicolor.

I got on Lexapro after 1st d-day. It takes about a week to kick in and I'll never forget the day that happened.

One morning, I got in my car and pulled out of the dark garage into the daylight. I felt like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz when she opened the door and walked out into Munchkinland. All of a sudden, my world went from grainy black & white to Technicolor.

Similarly for me. I love my Lexapro. I was actually diagnosed back in January (though I'd been on Lexapro by then since last April) with MDD and this has helped me so very much.

BS - Me
SA/FWH Him
DDay 1 - Jul 11
DDay 2 - Jul 12
R Dec 12

Former 80s Icon wishful thinking

Posts: 2031 | Registered: Feb 2012

She11ybeanz♀ 27457Member # 27457

Posted: 12:46 PM, April 30th (Wednesday), 2014

I got on Lexapro after 1st d-day. It takes about a week to kick in and I'll never forget the day that happened.
One morning, I got in my car and pulled out of the dark garage into the daylight. I felt like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz when she opened the door and walked out into Munchkinland. All of a sudden, my world went from grainy black & white to Technicolor.

Pharmaceuticals can work wonders

Okay...I'm SOLD!

"Sometimes your knight in shining armor ...is just a douchebag in tin foil!!"

My H had DRAMATIC improvement with good old prozac (the generic version) and mirtazapine at night (for sleeping/anxiety).

It was and is a god send.

The prozac started taking noticeable affect in about 5 days.

No shame!

Posts: 155 | Registered: Dec 2013

LosferWords♂ 30369Member # 30369

Posted: 2:36 PM, April 30th (Wednesday), 2014

My H had DRAMATIC improvement with good old prozac (the generic version)

Same here! I was on it for about a year and a half. The generic version was super cheap, too.

Best of luck, Shelly!

Because It's There - Michael Hedges

Posts: 15445 | Registered: Dec 2010

Tripletrouble♀ 39169Member # 39169

Posted: 4:11 PM, April 30th (Wednesday), 2014

Prozac, lexapro, and viibryd didn't help enough for me. I'm now on pristiq and that is the one that brought me to Oz. hallelujah because I was about off the cliff by the time I found the right one. Although it's one of those fresh from the lab ones with no generic, I post this to further emphasize the importance of finding the one that works for your personal body chemistry. By the time I was trying my fourth I had all but given up and thanks to SI I went back to the doctor again. Bingo!

40 somethings - me BW after 20 years
D Day April 2013
Divorced November 2013
Time is a great healer but a terrible beautician.

Posts: 764 | Registered: May 2013

Tripletrouble♀ 39169Member # 39169

Posted: 4:11 PM, April 30th (Wednesday), 2014

Prozac, lexapro, and viibryd didn't help enough for me. I'm now on pristiq and that is the one that brought me to Oz. hallelujah because I was about off the cliff by the time I found the right one. Although it's one of those fresh from the lab ones with no generic, I post this to further emphasize the importance of finding the one that works for your personal body chemistry. By the time I was trying my fourth I had all but given up and thanks to SI I went back to the doctor again. Bingo!

40 somethings - me BW after 20 years
D Day April 2013
Divorced November 2013
Time is a great healer but a terrible beautician.

Posts: 764 | Registered: May 2013

SeanFLA♂ 32380Member # 32380

Posted: 11:28 PM, April 30th (Wednesday), 2014

Tried a few different ones at the advice of my doctor and nothing was right. Side effects were horrible. Then tried Cymbalta and it was a nightmare. I just couldn't handle it, even the lower dose. I had to get off cause I literally thought I was going to lose my mind on it. So yes, I did the wrong thing and quite cold turkey. You cannot split Cymbalta pills but take it every other day. The rollercoaster was bad. When I quit I went through horrid withdrawals. But I said to myself I was getting through it and did. The withdrawals took about two weeks. I swore to myself then that I was just going to process the emotions and move through this. No more drugs like that. I was so angry about what my life had come to because of her. The anger took over the depression for me. I swore I would rather be depressed than on any of that stuff again. Just my experience. People react differently to them. They aren't for everyone and no, they aren't a silver bullet.

BS(me) 48
WW 47
1 son 14 yrs old
Married 18 yrs, together 21 yrs

"You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have." ~ Bob Marley